Tube and flue cleaner.



PATBNTED DEC. .17, 1907.

H. s. STORMER.

TUBE AND FLUE CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12. 1907.

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y if UZO/Y/(Ci Jia '1 $1 No. 874,258. PATENTED DEG. 17. 1907. H. s. STORMER. ,TUBE AND FLUE GLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12, 1907.

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UNITED sir-Ares PATENT: OFFICE; l

HARRY S. STORMER, OF JOHNSTOWRPENNSYLVANIA.

TUBE AND FLUE GLEANEB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 17, 1907.

Application filed January 12. 1907- Serial No. 362.039.

Johnstown, in the county of Cambria and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tube and Flue Cleaners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to boilertube and flue cleaners, and more particularly to that class of cleaners comprising a rotary motor which is operated by a turbine wheel actuated by a suitable pressure medium fed through a hollow tube or pipe which is connected to the cleaner and serves as the handle for manipulating-the cleaner while in operation.

The cleaner of the present invention includes a head which is rotatable and associated'with the remaining mechanism by a ball and socket joint and operates by a pounding action as well as penetration to oosen and remove scale or other material adhering to the interior of a tube or flue, the several arts of the mechanism being so assembled t rat a compact construction will result and the head permitted to assume an angular position relativelyto the body of the cleaner for adapting the latter to be operated in tubes or flues having compara tlvely sharp or abrupt curves or bends.

The invention consists in the novel combination of elements as a whole and in detail more fully hereinafter referred to.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cleaner embodying the features of the invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal ver tical section thereof shown applied. Fig. 3 is a front end elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a rear end elevation of the diaphragm and easing. Figs. 5 and 6 are side elevations partially in section of portions of the motor. Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are detail views showing the cleaning head and. portions of its connections. Figs. 10 and 11 are detail views of other parts of the cleaner.

Similar charactefs of reference are em- I ployed to indicate corresponding parts in the views.

The numerall designates a flared couplmg cap having a reduced extremity 2formed with wrench engaging faces and in which is secured the end of a pipe or tube 3, said pipe or tube servingas a conduit means and also as a handle, as will be more fully hereinafter specified. The coupling cap 1 has its front extremity secured in the rear portion of a surroundin shell or casing 4. Within the shell or casing 4 is a dia hragm or partition 5, the coupling cap 1 an diaphragm 5 being removably connected to the said shell or casing. The diaphragm 5 has a central interiorly screw-threaded hub 6 with a collar seat 7 at the forward extremity thereof or in the center of the face of the dia hragm.

Adjacent to the eriphery of the iaphragm 5 is a plurality 0 feed bores or o enings 8, extending diagonally therethrougii, and secured in the hub 6 is a screw-threaded shaft 9, having an intermediate collar 10, which fits in the seat 7, the shaft 9 projecting forwardly from the diaphra m and screwthreaded throughout its ful length, except at the point where the collar is located. .A pin 6* is also used as an additional securing meansfor the hub 6 on the shaft 9. The front extremity of the shaft 9 is longitudinally recessed or grooved, as at 11. tably=mounted within the shell or casing 4, and movable around the shaft 9, is a motor member or element comprising a body 12, having a on recess 13 at the center of the rear side an communicating with a bore 14, which is considerably greater in diameter than the diameter of the shaft 9,

- Within the cup recess 13 a ball cup 15 is secured, and on the shaft 9 adjacent to this on is a cone 16, a plurality of balls 17 being he d between the inclined surface of the cone and the cup, as clearly shown by Fig. 2, to ease the movement of the motor member or element and reduce the friction thereon to a minimum. The body 12 of the motor member or element has a diagonally reduced tubular extension 18 projecting forwardly 95 I from the centerthereo the bore 14 opening into the said extension and the latter provided with interior screw-threads, as at 19.

A cup recess 20 is also formed in the central portion of the fore-part of the body 12 and 100 the adjacent portion of the extension 18 to' receive a cup 21 in a position reverse to the cup 15, and on the ad acent part of the shaft 9 is a cone 22 also in a position reverse to the cone 16, and between the cone 22 and cup 21 105 antifrictional elements just explained regu- 110 Rotalarity and ease of. movement of the motor .element or member is insured, as well as the therewith, and which will e presently exp ained. The cones 16 and 22 are interiorly screw threaded and readil applicable to and removable from the sha t 9, and no part of the motor element or memparts cooperatin I her is permitted to contact with or bear upon operationthereof. The cone 22 has its front enlarged extremity providedwith diametric slots 22 to receive a wrench or spanner, and also a seat 24 in which is fitted a locking washer 25, having an opening 26 therethrou h of such diameter as to fit over the end 0 the shaft, and a locking projection 27 to engage the recess or groove 11, as clearly shown y Fig. 11. This locking washer is held in the seat 24 by a nut 28 ap lied to the screw-threaded forward end of the shaft 9, and said washer operates to preventloosenmg of the cone 22 due to the rotation of the antifrictional devices engaging fltherewith, and thereby preserves the desired association or relation between the said cone 22, the cup21 and the balls 23. I

The body 12 of the motor member or element is free to rotate within. the shell or casing 4 and has its rear face located close to the front face of the diaphragm 5',- and adjacent to the periphery thereof a ings 29is formed therethrough at regular intervals, and diagonally disposed in planes at right angles to the bores or openings 8 of the diaphragm. From the foregoing it will be seen that the element or member, including the body 12 and theiex-tension 18, is in the form of a wheel with the openings or ports therein of the same diameter as the openings 8 in the diaphragm, the latter forming a base and preferably constructed of bronze to render the same strong and durable.

Removably disposed in the. front extremity of the extension 18 is a socket 30', having a forwardly flared opening'31 inits front end. Within the socket is a hemispherical member 32 of the cleaner head shank or stem 33 is loosely mounted, and has a slot 34 but diagonally through therear portion thereof to receive a limiting pin 35, secured in the socket and. operating to prevent the member from moving rearwardly beyond a predetermined distance, and also from turning in the socket, the slot 34 being of such width as to obviate any tendency of the pin to restrict the movement of the shank or stem 33. The shank or stem 33 at an intermediate point is provided with a stop-collar 34, and adjacent to the'said collar isa square portion 35.

part of the bore diameter than plurality of openthe motive medium The terminal of the shank or stem in ad- Vance of the square portion is screw-threaded, as at 36. On the stem or shank 33 a head or knocker 37 .is mounted, and has abore 38 through the center thereof to adapt the same to be readily-slipped over the free extremity of the said stem or shank, the rear. 38 being of the same contour as the portion '35 of t e stem and the remaining portion-of the bore being of greater the stem and terminating in a front enlargement or socket 39*. By this means-the head or knocker 37 is held against rotation 'on .the part of the stem or shank which it engages, and is-secured in applied position by means of a flanged nut 39 fitted over the screw threaded terminal 36 of thd stem or shank, and havin a reduced portion 40 projecting into the soc et 39. 39, after being applied,-is held against movement by a cotter pin 41 inserted through the terminal '36 of-the stem or shank against the outer or head portion of the nut-39. The head or knocker 37,'as-sh own, has a quadrangular pyramidal contourwith concave faces 42, which provide cutting edges 43. Y The form of the head or knocker, however, may be varied, it only being essential in the construction of'the same to have it equipped with cutting edges. The reduced extremity 40 of the nut 39 frictionallyengages the socket 39*. The head or knocker 37 may be readily. separated from the stem or shank 33 and heads of different forms may be applied to the stem or shank as found necessary or desirable.

The flared coupling cap 1 the diaphragm 5 a chamber 44 which receives from the conduit 3, the latter serving as a handle to directtlie longitudinal movement of the cleaner as a whole through a tube or flue, and-said conduit may be as long as desired andcomposed of any number of c'oupled sections.

Any motive fluid may be used, such as air or steam, which is admitted through the conduit 3 into the. chamber 44 and from the lat-- ter passes through the opemngs 8 in the diaphragm 5, through the ports or openings 29 i in the body 12 of the motor member or w lieel. Owing to the fact that the ports or openings 1 29 are disposed in planes at right angles to the openings 8 and are diagonally arrangedin the body 12, the latter is rotated, the air or steam exhausting in advance of the' cleaner, and to some extent assisting in the cleaning operation by ,blowing the loose material ahead and clearing the way for a more expe- This nut forms in rear of i ditious progress of the cleaner. The rotation of the motor member or wheel'causes a similar'movement of the socket 30, and such actuation of the latter imparts a rotar movement to the stem or shank 33 and the head or knocker 37 b means the pin'bfi engaging the hemisp erical member 32* on remaining ment within the tube or flue with'c onsider-' able force at the same time that the said motive medium which is due to the uniformity of diameters. of the openings 8 and theiports or openings 29. Another effective feature is the disposition of the ports or open- 4 ings 29 in diagonal relation in the body 12,

and in planes at right angles to the openings 8. Structurally, a further advantage of the improved cleaner resides in having the pin 35 stationary in the socket 30, the said pin under this condition holding the hemispherical member or ball 32 in one position against the front of the socket, and thereby keeping the dust and dirt from working back to the antifrictional bearing immediately in rear of the socket. A further structural advantage is in having the head or kno'cker 37 of materially less diameter than the interior of the flue or tube to be cleaned, and imparting to the said head or knocker not only a rotary movement, but also a pounding action, or causing it to bound regularly from one position. to

another with respect to'the interior of the tube or flue, and. thus break the scale or sediment in pieces, instead of grinding it. Another structural advantage is the attachment of the socket 30 in the extension by screw threads, in view of the fact that cleaners of this type are subject to considerable vibration, and the parts at the forward extremity of the cleaner will, under the structural relation specified,- be prevented from workin loose, and furthermore, though the in will wear the hemispherical head 32 and ecome loose, it cannot fall out or be accidentally displaced.

, The parts of the improved cleaner may be readily separated and assembled, and should any ofthe same become materially worn after extended use they can be replaced at a minimum cost without dis ensing with the 1portions of the cfeaner.

It will a o be understood thatchanges in the proportions, dimensions and minor de tails may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus fully described the'invention, what is claimed as new, is:

1. A tube or fine cleaner comprising a casing, a fixed dia hragm in the casing provided with ppenmgs 'therethrough near the periphery, a stationary shaft secured to the diaphragm and projecting forwardly from the latter, a rotary motor element located close to the diaphragm and movable around the shaft, the rotary motor element also having openings therethrough near the periph-f ery coinciding with those of the diaphragm and provided with an extension which proje cts beyond the end of the shaft, and a single cleaning head having a shank loosely and separably connected to the forward end of the extension in advance of the end of the shaft, the said cleaning head'and shank having lateral movement in opposite directions in addition to the rotative movement imparted thereto by the motor element.

2. A tube or flue cleaner comprising a casing, a fixed diaphragm in the casing, a fixed shaft held by and projecting inwardly from the diaphragm, a rotary motor element loosely operating around the shaft and pro-\ vided with a forwardly projecting rigid extension, antifrictional devices interposed between the shaft and the rotary motor element, and a singlecleaning head having a shank loosely and separably connected to and within the forward end of the extension in advance of the shaft, the cleaning head and its shank having movement in opposite lateral directions in addition to the rotary vided with a tubular extension and having ball cups disposed therein in reverse positions, screw threaded cones engaging the shaft andalso reversely positioned, balls interposed between the cones and the cups, the rotary motor element being unconnected to the shaft except by the cups, cones and balls, and a cleaning head movably and separably secured in the forward extremity of the extension of the rotary motor element in advance of and in alinement with the said shaft.

4. A tube or flue cleanercomprising a fixed shaft, a rotary motor element disposed on the shaft and provided with a forwardly projecting tubular extension terminating in ad-' vance of the end of the'shaft,conesarranged in reverse positions on the shaft, cups carried by the rotary motor element and also disposed in'reverse positions, balls between the cups and cones, the forward cone having a seat, a locking washer fitted in the seat of the forward cone and having an inner projection engaging a portion of the shaft, a locking nut engaging the shaft and bearing against the washer, a socket removably mounted in the free end of the extension, and a cleaning head movably secured in the said socket.

5. A tube or flue cleaner comprising a rotary motor element having a tubular extension, a shaft around which the said e'lement operates, a tubular socket secured in the forward extremity of the extension and having an opening therethrough, a stem or shank provlded' with a rear hemispherical member fitted in the socket, the said head having a rear diametrically arranged slot therein, a pin extending across the socket and loosely engaging in the slot in the member, and a cleaning head mounted on the free extremity of the stem or shank.

6; A tube or flue cleaner comprising a casing, a rotary motor element mounted in the casing, a fixed shaft around which the motor element operates, the motor element having a tubular extension projecting forwardly therefrom, a stem or shank carrying a cleaning head and also provided with a rear hemispherical member, a socket mounted in the extension and engaged by the hemispherical member, and means carried by the socket for engaging the rear portion of the hemispherical member to prevent the latter from having rearward movement, the hemispherical member with the socket providing a dust and dirt excluding means.

7. A tube or flue cleaner comprising a casing, a rotary motor element in the casing, stem or shank movably connected to a portion of the rotary motor element and having an intermediate stop collar, an adjacent angular portion, and'a screw-threaded free extremity, a cleaning head fitted over the screw threaded extremity and engaging the angular portion to prevent the head from rotating on the stem or shank, a flanged nut engaging the screw-threaded extremity of the shank and having a portion thereof fitted in the adj acent end of the head, and means for securing the nut against movement.

In testimony whereof i have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit-- nesses.

HARRY S. STORMER. Witnesses:

D. J. Jones, B. J. PrcKrNG. 

